U.S. Census: Diverse populations contribute to Utah’s growth, youth

Population estimates released today by the United States Census Bureau show that nearly four out of every 10 new Utah residents in the past year are racial or ethnic minorities, a continuation of recent trends.

The wave of diversity is a generational shift. This is evidenced by greater that one quarter (26.8 percent) of Utah’s preschool aged population now being classified as minorities, compared to only 7.1 percent being 85 years of age and older. Salt Lake County has 37.1 percent of the state’s population and is home to nearly half of the state’s minority population.

The minority population in Utah increased from 590,591 to 607,891 from 2013 to 2014, an increase of 17,300 or 2.9 percent. The total population increased by 40,115 or 1.4 percent during the same time. This means that, according to the estimates, increases in minority population accounted for 43.1 percent of the state’s population growth.

From 2010 to 2014, minorities increased from 537,522 to 607,891, an increase of 70,369 or 13.1 percent. The total population increased by 179,017 or 6.5 percent. During the time since the 2010 Census, the minority population accounted for 39.3 percent of the state’s population growth.

Since the 2010 Census the minority population in Utah has increased from 19.4 percent of the total population to 20.7 percent in 2014. Although minorities are a larger share nationally (now 37.9 percent), Utah continues to trend in the same direction.

The only county in Utah to be considered a “majority-minority” is San Juan County with 53.4 percent. Salt Lake County has the second largest minority population share with 27.4 percent, followed by Weber (22.9 percent), Uintah (18.0 percent), and Carbon (16.8 percent). Salt Lake County is home to 37.1 percent of Utah residents and nearly half (49.1 percent) of the state’s minority population.

In 2014, the largest minority group in Utah was Hispanic or Latino with 398,760 or 13.5 percent of the total population. The next largest group was non-Hispanic Asians with 66,837 or 2.3 percent.

Within Utah, the fastest growing race or ethnic group from the 2010 Census to 2014 were those who were non-Hispanic Asians with an increase of 22.0 percent, followed by non-Hispanic two or more races (19.8 percent), non-Hispanic Black or African American (17.9 percent), Hispanic or Latino (11.3 percent), and non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (10.7 percent).

The fastest increase in the minority population from the 2010 Census to 2014 mostly occurred in counties with small populations, and as a result, small minority populations. Morgan’s small minority population, which was just 358 in 2010 and 502 in 2014, resulted in a percent change of 40.2 percent. Daggett County’s minority population increase from 57 in 2010 to 78 in 2014 or a percent change of 36.8 percent. The minority population in Salt Lake County increased by 33,236, the largest increase of any county in the state.

Millennials

The number of young people in Utah born between 1982 and 2000, known as the millennial generation, numbered 681,599 or 23.2 percent of the total Utah population on July 1, 2014. The baby boom generation, those born between 1946 and 1964, numbered 515,503 or 17.5 percent of the total state population. The largest generation in Utah is children age 0-17 with 904,115 or 30.7 percent of the total.

In Utah, millennials outnumbered baby boomers by 2010, a full five years before the nation. This is the combined result of Utah having had a higher net in-migration rate of young adults during the economic boom of the 1990s until the onset of the Great Recession as well as a higher fertility rate than the nation as a whole.

The millennial generation in Utah is more diverse than the boomers with 23.3 percent being part of a minority race or ethnic group (any group other than non-Hispanic, white alone). 13.6 percent of the baby boom population is minority.

The percent of children who are minority is the largest with 25.3 percent. Over one fourth (26.8 percent) of preschoolers are minorities as compared to only 7.1 percent of those 85 years and older. This generational shift is consistent with national trends.

From 2010 to 2014, the Utah preschool age population (less than 5 years old) declined by 11,793, a result of declining numbers of births during the Great Recession. School age population (5 through 17) within the state is estimated to have increased by 44,881 over the same period. College age population (18 through 24) increased by 15,359.

The five-year age group with the largest numeric increase from 2010 to 2014 is the 35 though 39 year old population, which increased by 31,919. This is the age wave of people born during Utah’s early 1980s “baby boom.” Aging post-World War II Baby Boomers are evident in the 20,278 increase of the 60 though 64 year old age group and the 20,185 increase in the 65 through 69 year old age group.